War Memorial Wetschen

The memorial occupies a small triangle of land beside the B214, enclosed by a low brick wall.

The WW1 memorial consists of a statue standing on a tall square rustic stone plinth. The statue depicts a WW1 German infantry soldier in late war uniform (including M16 pattern helmet, a backpack and triple ammunition pouches on his belt). His head is turned to face the west with his left hand resting over his heart and his right arm clutching his rifle by his side. His left knee rests on the barrel of a small heavily stylized artillery piece (unidentifiable as an actual type but resembling a howitzer) which also points towards the west.

The front (north) side of the monument has a panel bearing the dedicatory inscription: ‘To the heroes of the Wetschen Community 1914-1918’. Decorating the panel are an Iron Cross sitting above crossed oak branches. On the west and east sides are panels inscribed with 27 names each. The names are grouped together depending on which area of combat the individual died in, or if they were missing (6 individuals) or died in hospital (7 individuals). The date of death is also given for each man.

The WW2 dead are commemorated on 4 tall steles grouped in pairs on either side of the WW1 monument. Each stele is topped with a Germanic cross and is painted white with the inscribed letters painted in black. The font used is an imitation Runic script. The pair on the left carry 19 names each and the first of the right pair carries 20 names. The rank, first name, surname and date of death or when they went missing are given for each individual. The right hand stele contains the inscription: . ‘To the memory of the Fallen and those who died fleeing. To always remember those who had to leave their home’.

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Source

• Text: Andy Pegler
• Photos: Andy Pegler